Removable sash



R. G. OEHMlG REMOVABLE SASH Dec. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JIJ? l d V32INI Filed Feb. 20, 1958 R. G. OEHMlG REMOVABLE SASI-IY Dec. 2, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20. 1958 a f i., 2,862,258 Ice Patented Dec.2, 1958 REMOVABLE SASH Robert G. Oehmig, Chicago, lll.

Application February 20, 1958, Serial No. 716,319

6 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-52.2)

This invention relates to double hung spring balanced windows andparticularly to spring balanced windows of this type wherein the sashare removable from the window frame.

Many kinds of removable double hung window structures have been proposedand made, and with each of these prior types of windows, certainobjections have been found to be present. Thus, double hung windows havebeen provided wherein the sash are guided on metal sash guides, one orboth of which are spring-pressed toward the edge of the sash so thatthere is a spring pressure laterally against the sash which exerts aholding action to maintain the sash in any desired position of verticaladjustment. Such sash are said to have yielding guides, and by pressingthe sash laterally against the yielding guide, the sash may bedisengaged from one of the sash guides so that it may be pivoted orswung inwardly at one edge and then may be moved edgewise to disengagethe sash from the other guide. Such removable sash arrangements havebeen widely used, but it is found that where the spring pressure in theside guides is adequate to maintain the sash in any vertical position ofadjustment, the lateral pressure that must be exerted for a removingoperation is excessive so that as a practical matter the sash are veryseldom removed for cleaning or like purposes.

Eorts have been made to reduce the necessary lateral pressure that isprovided in the guideways by providing vertical springs disposed betweenthe vertical edges of the sash and the guideways, thus providing afurther counterbalancing or retaining force for the sash, but when thisis done, there is a further complication of the removing operationbecause this requires that the counterbalance spring be disconnectedfrom the sash in the course of a sash removing operation.

In view of the foregoing it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a removable spring balanced sash structure whereinthe mounting and removal operations are relatively simple and may beperformed quite easily and without application of excessive forces. Amore specific object of the present invention is to provide aspring-balanced double hung window structure in which the spring balancemeans act on the sash through' an intermediate member that is so formedand related that it may be readily disconnected from the sash so thatthe sash may be quickly and easily removed from the window frame.Further objects of the present invention are to provide such a structurein which the sash guide and spring housing member may take any of theusual commercially available forms, and in which the sash may be removedwithout the exertion of lateral or edgewise pressures on the sash.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aseparately formed edge member for a window sash which may be quickly andeasily associated with a sash and which cooperates with the conventionalspring housing and sash guide member to provide an advantageousremovable mounting for the window sash.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and whatis now considered to be the best mode in which to apply theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from theinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan sectional view showing a double hung windowinstallation embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another form of sashguide and spring housing with which the present invention may beemployed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view taken in section along the line3 3 of Fig. 5 and illustrating the cooperation of the sash guide, thesash and the intermediate edge member for the sash;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of the window structurewith the lower sash in its normal closed relation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inside elevational view similar to Fig. 4 andillustrating the parts in the positions which they assume when a sash isbeing removed from the window frame; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken respectivelyalong the line 6--6 of Fig. 3 and the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is herein illustrated asembodied in a double hung window 10 having opposite jambs IIL and 11Rwhich are of the simplified or plank type having outer stops IZL and 12Rand having metal sash guides ISL and ISR mounted thereon to provide forguided vertical movement of the upper and lower sash 16 and 17.

The sash guides ISL and ISR as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to 5 are formedfrom sheet metal to provide both inner and outer sash guide means, andin the present instance, one of these means is more or less conventionalwhile the other of such means includes a vertically extending springhousing. This results in a final structure wherein the sash 16 and 17are each counterbalanced by an elongated coil spring 18 at but one edgethereof. With particular reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will benoted that a conventional sash guide groove C is provided while a secondsash guide groove 115S is provided near the other edge of the metal sashguide ISR, and these grooves are separated by an intermediate metalparting stop 215. The remote side of the groove 115C is provided by aflange 215C so that one edge or stile of a window sash may ride in thegroove 115C between the ange 215C and the parting stop 215.

In providing the spring-balanced side of the strip ISR, the metal of thestrip is doubled to form two side members of curved cross section thatdefine an elongated spring housing tube 11511 that has a slot at itsouter or forward edge through which the lower end of the spring I8housed in the tube may be connected with a sash. The upper end of such aspring 18 is connected to the tube 115T in a conventional manner so thatthe spring 18 may impart an upwardly yielding force to a sash that isconnected thereto. Beyond the tube IIST, to the right in Fig. 3, themetal of the strip is extended as at 115B, but this edge of the stripdoes not have a ange like the flange 215C since the function of such aflange is accomplished, in this instance, by engagement of the sash orassociated part with the tube 115T.

As will be evident in Fig. l of the drawings, the strips 3 R areidentical with the exception that such strips on opposite jambs 11L and11R are mounted in reversed directions so that the spring tube of theguide ISR is disposed in position for cooperation with the inner sash17, while the spring 115T of the guide 15L is positioned for cooperationwith the outer sash 16.

Under the present invention, edge sash 16 and 17 is associated with therelated spring tube 115T and the spring 18 thereof in a detachablemanner such that the sash may be readily removed, and this isaccomplished in each instance through the association of an edge memberwith the related edge of the sash 16 or 17. Thus, as will be evident inFig. 1, and with particular reference to the inner sash 17, such sash 17has stiles 21C and 21M, and the stile 21C is of the normal size andshape so that it may cooperate with the conventional guide groove 115C.The other stile 21M however is modified by cutting away the outer edgeportion thereof to form a stile that is somewhat narrower than the stile21C, and it is this modified stile 21M of the inner sash 17 that isassociated with the spring tube 115T and the guide groove 115S throughthe intermediary of the edge member 20.

The edge member 20 is provided with means for engaging the guide ISR andwith means for embracing the adjacent edge of the stile 21M, while aswill be described hereinafter, the spring 18 is connected to its lowerend to the edge member 20, and means are provided on the edge member 20for releasably holding the sash 17 in position in the edge member 20 sothat the counterbalancing force of the spring 18 is applied through theedge member 20 to the sash 17.

Thus, as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 6, the edge member 20 is formedas an extrusion and preferably the material used is relatively rigidplastic material. The edge member 20 comprises a main wall 24 withflanges and 26 at its edges, and the tianges 25 and 26 cooperate withthe wall 24 to provide a shallow groove adapted to receive the edge ofthe stile 21M with the tianges 25 and 26 tirrnly engaging the inner andouter faces of the stile. Centrally of the groove that is thus formed aclearance rib 27 is provided, this rib being formed to provide a centralopening or passage 27P. The rib 27 is relatively shallow and rectangularin form, and it functions to provide clearances that are needed as willbe hereinafter described.

On the opposite side of the wall 24 means are provided for engaging thespring tube 115T of a guide member, and this engagement is embracing innature so that spring tube 115T serves as a guiding means for rlongitudinal sliding movement of the edge member 20 along the tube 115T.Such means as herein shown are provided by four parallel ribs thatextend longitudinally of the wall 24 in spaced relation, and the twoinner ribs 30 are the ones that directly embrace and engage the springtube 115T. One of the other ribs 30 engages the parting stop 215, whilethe other outer rib serves merely as a filler which spans the spacebetween the wall 24 and the base portion 115E of the guide.

When the edge strip 20 is being prepared for association with a sash,strip 20 is cut to a length equal to the vertical height of the sash,and the inner tiange 25 is cut away as at 25C near its lower end toprovide clearance space for a releasably locking member 32. The lockingmember 32 is formed from sheet metal in a strip-like form with aninturned arm 32F at its lower end. The other end of the locking member32 extends along the face of the wall 24 between the edge of that walland the hollow rib 27 and is pivoted at 33 to the wall 24 by a rivetthat is extended through the wall 24 and into the space between theadjacent pair of ribs 30. It will be noted that when thus mounted, thelocking member 32 has the body thereof or main portion thereof locatedopposite the hollow internal rib 27 so that the stile 21M, when it iscut off to tit into the edge member 20. will have its edge spaced fromthe wall 24 in an amount sutiicient to provide clearance space intowhich the locking member 32 may be swung to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 3. This dotted line position of the locking member 32constitutes the locking or effective position of the locking member 32,and the member 32 is moved to this relationship after the sash has beenmoved upwardly into place in the guide groove that is formed between thetianges 25 and 26. The sash is shown in this relationship in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, and it will be noted that an angle member 35 is held inposition on the edge member by a rivet 36 so as to be located on theedge member 20 at the upper end thereof. In this position the anglemember 35 acts as a stop against which the upper edge of the sash 17 maybear, and when the sash has been moved upwardly into the edge member 20to the extent determined by the stop 35, the locking member 32 may bemoved downwardly to its locking position wherein the end portion 32P ofthe locking member underlies and engages the lower edge of the sash.When this has been done, the edge member 20 and the sash will movetogether, and the coil spring 18 will act as a counterbalance means forthe sash.

It has been pointed out that the upper end of the spring 18 is attachedto the guide strip 15R as by hooking the end loop of the spring over the-upper end edge of the guide member. The lower end of the spring 18 isattached to the edge member 20 by extending the lower hook 18H of thespring 18 through an opening 37 formed in the wall 24 midway between theedges thereof. When the opening 37 is thus formed, the end portion ofthe hook 18H will extend through the opening 37 into the passage 27P andwill thus be prevented from coming into contact with the sash 17 as itis moved into or out of the edge member 20.

As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the metal guide member is shown as beingof a full width construction that provides both the inner and outerrunways and an intermediate metal parting stop 215. It is important toobserve however that the present invention is not at all limited to theuse of such a full width metal guide member. Thus the two sash runwayson each jamb may be provided by independently formed metal guide means,or if desired, one edge of each sash may be guided in a conventionalsash guide groove, while the other edge that is to have thecounterbalancing force applied thereto may be guided and mounted by asash guide and spring housing member 415 of the type that is shown inFig. 2A. This guide is of conventional construction and is made fromsheet metal to provide a base wall 415B that has return bends at itsedges that extend inward, parallel to the base 145B and are then bentoutwardly to provide opposite sides 415S of a spring housing, the sidesof the spring housing being hemmed at 415H in accordance with the usualpractice.

In the installation of the structure of the present invention, the sideguides and spring housing guides are first put into proper place in thewindow frame, and with the springs 18 are located in the spring housingtubes and anchored at their upper ends near or at the tops of the springhousing tubes. Then edge members 20 are put into place so as to embracethe spring housing tubes, and the lower ends of the edge members 20 areconnected to the lower ends of the spring 18 by inserting the hooks 18Hthrough openings 37 in the edge members. When the parts are thusassembled, theaction of the springs 18 will of course draw both of theedge members 20 to their upper positions.

The outer sash 16 is then put into place by moving the stile 21C of thesash laterally and at an angle into the conventional groove such as theright hand groove C of Fig. 3. The other edge of the sash may be swungoutwardly so that the upper portion of the stile 21M of the sash movesbeneath the cut away edge 25C of the edge member 20, thus to locate thestile 21M opposite the lower portion of the wall 24 of this particularedge member 2t). The sash is then moved upwardly into the groove that isdefined by the flanges 25 and Z6, and such upward movement is continueduntil the upper edge of the sash strikes the upper stop or abutment 3S.The locking member 32 is then shifted downwardly from the full lineposition of Fig. 3 to the dotted line of Fig. 3, and when this is donethe end 32P of the locking member moves into position beneath the loweredge of the sash. The sash and the edge member 20 are thus electuallyconnected together so that the spring 18 acts upon the edge member 20 toimpart the counterbalancing action to the sash.

The inner sash may then be put in place by a similar but laterallyreversed manipulation of the parts, and this completes the assembly ofthe window installation.

When the sash are to be removed for cleaning or other purposes, theforegoing procedure is reversed, the inner or lower sash being firstremoved, after which the upper or outer sash may be removed. It will beevident of course that with respect to the inner sash that such sashmust be moved rst to the upper position before releasing the lockingmember 32, this being necessary in order to provide necessary clearancefor downward withdrawal of the inner sash from its associated edgemember.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved spring balanced removable-sash windowstructure in which the removal of the sash may be accomplished quicklyand with great ease. It will also be apparent that the present inventionenables the sash to be removed without application of lateral forces tothe sash, and thus the removal of the sash may be accomplished byinexperienced workers.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment ofmy invention it is to be understood that changes and variations may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit andscope of the appending claims.

I claim:

l. In a window structure having a frame with opposed sash guide meansone of which comprises a primary guide groove and the other of whichcomprises a vertically slotted spring housing, an edge member havingguide means embracing said spring housing for relative longitudinalsliding movement and having means thereon facing said primary guidegroove and providing a secondary sash receiving groove, a spring in saidspring housing anchored at its upper end on said housing and at itslower end on and near the lower end of said edge member, a sash havingits opposite edges disposed slidably in the respective grooves, upperand lower stop means on said edge member for holding said edge member onsaid sash, and means mounting said lower stop means for movement to areleased position whereby said sash may be moved downwardly out of saidsecondary groove.

2. In a window structure having a frame with opposed sash guide meansone of which comprises a primary guide groove and the other of whichcomprises a vertically slotted spring housing, an edge member havingelongated guide means on one side slidably embracing said spring housingand having means on its other side providing a secondary sash receivinggroove, a spring in said spring housing anchored at its upper end onsaid housing and at its lower end on said edge member, a sash having itsopposite edges disposed slidably in the respective grooves, and meansfor interconnecting said edge member and the sash for holding said edgemember releasably on said sash.

3. In a window structure having a frame with opposed sash guide meansone of which comprises an elongated primary guide and the other of whichcomprises a vertically slotted spring housing, the improvement thatcomprises an edge member having guide means on one side embracing saidspring housing for slidable guiding said member for longitudinal slidingmovement along said housing and having guide means on its opposite sidefor engagement with the edge of a sash to guide said edge member and thesash for longitudinal sliding movement, a spring in said spring housinganchored at its upper end on said housing and at its lower end on saidedge member, and stop means on said edge member for releasably holdingsaid edge member in a xed relation on such a sash.

4. In a window structure having a frame with oppose/.l sash guide meansone of which comprises a primary groove and the other of which comprisesa vertically slotted spring housing, an edge member having guide meansembracing said spring housing and having means thereon facing said guidegroove and providing a secondary sash-receiving groove, a spring in saidspring housing anchored at its upper end on said housing and at its`lower end on said edge member, stop means on the upper portion of saidmember to limit upward movement of a sash into said secondary groove,land releasable locking means on said edge member for engaging a lowerportion of a sash to hold the same in said secondary groove.

5. In a window structure having a frame with an opposed sash guide meansone of which comprises a primary guide and the other of which comprisesa vertically slotted spring housing, an edge member having guideelements on one side embracing said spring housing and having means onthe other side providing a secondary sash-engaging guide, a spring insaid spring housing anchored at its upper end on said housing and at itslower end on said edge member, and means on said member for releasablyholding said edge member in position on a sash to guide andcounterbalance such sash.

6. An edge member for use in removably mounting a vertically slidingsash in a window frame, said member comprising an elongated wall havinganges projecting from the edges to dene a sash receiving groove on oneside of said wall, projecting parallel ribs in spaced relation on theother side of said wall defining a space within which la spring housingmay be slidably positioned, one of said anges being cut away near oneend of said member, and a locking member swingably mounted on said sideof said wall for engaging a horizontal edge surface 'of a sash.

Grove Aug. 18, 1896 Dawson Nov. 13, 1928

